Experience Music Project (EMP) Museum

The museum was designed by Frank O. Gehry who has also designed buildings such as the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto, The Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and the Aerospace Museum of the California Science Center, also in Los Angeles.

The building is described as “an abstract representation of a smashed guitar.”

Hendrix Guitars

Hendrix guitar exhibits at the museum include the smashed fragments of the Fender Stratocasters Jimi sacrificed during his Saville Theatre, Monterey and Albert Hall performances.

Perhaps the most famous of Jimi's guitars held by the museum is the Fender Stratocaster he played the "Star Spangled Banner" with at Woodstock. The “Woodstock Guitar” as it is commonly known, was purchased for the museum by Paul Allen for $1.3 million.

Also on display is the Gibson Les Paul electric guitar played at Woodstock by Jimi's friend and "Gypsy Sun and Rainbows" bandmate Larry Lee.

Hendrix Effect Pedals

Famous Hendrix effect pedals that have been accumulated and displayed as part of the Experience Music Project’s Permanent Collection include a King Vox Wah pedal (circa 1968), an Octavio pedal prototype (1967) and a Shin-ei Uni-Vibe effects unit (circa 1969).

Other Hendrix artefacts include hand written letters Jimi wrote to his Father and hand written lyrics to songs such as "Message to Love" and "Gypsy Eyes".